Episodes
Adult Prices, Kid Culture: Where the Card Hobby Is Headed in 2026
Welcome to the first episode of the new year on Collector Nation . To kick off 2026, Ryan Alford is joined by his son Hudson for an honest conversation about where the sports card hobby is today — and where it’s headed next. ...
How a Mariah Carey Demo Became a $54,000 Iconic Collectible| Alex Bru…
Shownotes: In this episode of Collector Nation , host Ryan Alford sits down with Alex Bruh , CEO and Co-Owner of Wax Poetics , to explore the explosive intersection of music history , hip-hop culture , and high-value collecti...
Human Card Grading Is Ending — Here’s What Comes Next with Tech Advan…
Collector Nation is here—and it’s changing how the hobby tells its story. In this episode, Ryan Alford is joined by Brian Ludden, Founder & CEO of LUDX, to officially launch Collector Nation, a new media platform built by col...
Gordy Bonker left Wall Street for THIS: Why Sports Cards Are the Ulti…
In this episode of Trading Cards & Collectibles, Ryan Alford is joined by Gordy Bonkers to break down why vintage sports cards are increasingly being viewed as a serious alternative asset class. Gordy explains what separates ...
PSA Acquires Beckett. What This Means For Card Grading And Values
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles Podcast" on the Radcast Network, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss how recent sports performances and injuries are impacting trading card values. They sh...
Where Content Meets Collectibles: Building a Card Shop for Creators, …
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford announces the upcoming opening of Collector Station, a new destination hobby store in Easley, South Carolina. Ryan details the store’s ...
Unexpected Card Price Surges Shake Up The Hobby This Week
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast on the Radcast Network, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss the latest trends in the trading card market, notable sales, and personal collecting s...
The Power of Authenticity: How Resolution Photomatching Quadruples Va…
SUMMARY In this episode of the Trading Cards and Collectibles Podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews John Robinson, founder of Resolution Photo Matching. They discuss the rise of photo matching as the gold standard for authenti...
The Probstein Controversy Explained In Minutes | What Collectors Must…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Bryan Ludden discuss recent controversies in the trading card industry, including shill bidding and the "snipe disaster." They sha...
The UNTOLD Story: Licensing Art for Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods & Muh…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews acclaimed sports artist Justyn Farano. They discuss Justin’s artistic journey, his creative process, and the unique value of...
Thanksgiving Card Rips, NFL Predictions & Hobby News You Need Today
SUMMARY In this special Thanksgiving episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss how holiday traditions and the trading card hobby intersect. They share personal Thanksg...
Beyond The Price Tag: The Shocking Emotional Power of True Memorabilia
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast on the Radcast Network, host Ryan Alford interviews DJ Skee about the evolving world of collectibles. DJ Skee shares his journey from music to memorabili...
Snype, PSA, Fanatics & More — Major Shifts In The Card Market
SUMMARY In this pre-Thanksgiving episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss the latest trends in the trading card market, including rising and falling player values. Br...
The 'Veblen Effect': Why Collectibles Get MORE Desired As Prices Skyr…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews Dan Jamieson, CEO of Icons.com. Dan shares insights into the global sports memorabilia industry, highlighting Icons.com’s ex...
Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden & Brandon Steiner Talk What’s Wrong With Sp…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden welcome industry veteran Brandon Steiner. Together, they discuss the current sports landscape, the entertainment valu...
Sports Card Investing Tips That Actually Work
SUMMARY In this episode of "Trading Cards and Collectibles," host Ryan Alford welcomes Kunal Ahuja, founder of Sports Card Invest. They discuss the evolution of the sports card market, from the pandemic boom to recent, more s...
Why Digital Collectibles Are The New Sports Card Boom (NBA Top Shot +…
SUMMARY In this episode of the Trading Cards and Collectibles Podcast, host Ryan Alford welcomes Jacob Eisenberg from NBA Top Shot to discuss the latest digital rookie drops, including highly anticipated one-of-one moments an...
Mike Baker's "Card Fact" Exposed: The Secret Data Big Graders WON'T S…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews Mike Baker, a pioneer in card grading and founder of MBA Diamond. Baker discusses his early days at PSA, the challenges of b...
Is Whatnot’s $12B Valuation Real or Hype? Ryan and Brian Break It Down
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss the latest trends in the hobby, including rising football card values, new basketball releases, and the impac...
STOP Buying 'Mystery' Boxes: The Industry OG Exposes Your Losing Bet
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford welcomes memorabilia legend Brandon Steiner to discuss the evolving sports collectibles industry. Brandon shares insights from his deca...
Shohei Ohtani Cards Are Breaking The Hobby. Is He The Greatest Collec…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss the latest trends in the sports card market, spotlighting the surging popularity of quarterback Drake Maye an...
The $3,500 Prismatic 'God Pack' That Blew Our Minds (You Won't Believ…
SUMMARY In this episode of the Trading Cards and Collectibles podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews Phill Faust, known as Beard Dad Cards, a well-known figure in the Pokémon card community. Phill shares his mission to make co...
Latest news on trending sports cards, Pokemon, NFL and Major League B…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast on the Radcast Network, hosts Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden discuss the booming trading card industry, with Brian reporting live from the Texas Rangers st...
Pikachu Beats Athletes: The Secret Reason Pokemon Value Crushes Sport…
SUMMARY In this episode of the "Trading Cards and Collectibles" podcast, host Ryan Alford interviews Zack Browning (aka Gem Mint Pokemon), a full-time trading card entrepreneur. They discuss the explosive growth and scarcity ...